Chapter 26

025. The Ghost Incident at the Dormitory (1)

D/Z SAGA Chapter 1, Act 1.

Subtitle: The Ghost Incident at the Dormitory.

This is a truly meaningful episode that hints at the perilous life that awaits Jefrin.

The episode itself is simple.

A rumor circulates among the first-year freshmen that ghosts appear in the dormitory at night, and Eve comes to the dormitory to investigate.

Then, something that resembles a real ghost appears, and Kelthers and Eve work together to defeat it.

This is a straightforward first chapter and act, and compared to the stories that will unfold later, it's just a drop in the bucket, but it holds a very important turning point.

In short, the heroine's future can diverge based on the choices made in the first act.

Since the original story has different routes for each heroine, and the ending depends on which route is taken, it's natural that Kelthers' actions will affect the heroine's future.

If done well, the affection meter can max out, leading to ultimate awakening and personal growth. Conversely, if no attention is given, it can lead to a twisted path in other routes.

And Eve is directly affected by this.

If Kelthers takes the Magic Department route and becomes a knight for Eve, she becomes the Princess of Light. However, if he takes the Knight Department or Hidden Route, she might change in color or, in severe cases, lose her way entirely.

And Chapter 1, Act 1.

If the incident is resolved before Eve arrives or if she isn't helped.

“I remember that Eve's behavior pattern was the worst when she entered the Knight Department route without managing her affection meter.”

Indeed.

A dim light.

A slightly annoying and irritable Student Council President route.

You might think, "How can someone be more annoying here?" But it really happens. It's like the annoyance is multiplied.

“That Eve was a bit of a loser.”

A narrow-minded person who can only judge everything by status.

That's the conclusion of Eve von Loen格林, the Student Council President, who didn't take her own route and didn't even have a reason for awakening.

I still remember.

‘First year is 12. Second year is 13. Third year is 14. If the average status is lower than this, I will expel them all.’

Yes, she said that. And she didn't just say it; she really did it.

Because of that, I couldn't recruit any party members from the Hidden Route starting from Act 4.

Third year is 14. If this continues, all third-year students with a status below 14 will be expelled.

“...14?”

Huh?

***

It's annoying even now, but without Kelthers, it would be even more annoying. Eve von Loen格林, a royal bloodline mate and, incredibly, legally named as a younger sister.

They say that siblings who can't tolerate each other from birth, but in this situation where power is heavily skewed towards the younger sister, her ruthless blade cuts through the older brother.

“It's not that you have to gain enlightenment in Chapter 1, Act 1. You can raise your status to 14 by Act 4.”

Raising all stats to 14 is a bit chaotic, but it's not impossible.

Even if other stats are low, if you can raise one main stat to around 16, Eve will spare you.

Yes.

Eve will spare me.

“...bullshit.”

Begging for life from a younger sister?

Rather than beg for a miserable life from a royal bloodline mate, I'd rather choose death myself!

Wolfram, you may lack stats, stamina, and various other things, but do you lack pride?

Wolfram von Loen格林, Stamina 2, a living hell of magical exhaustion, and a fierce battle.

Would I choose a life of killing? No, I wouldn't even choose a life of being a hired killer.

A life where I have to beg for permission to survive in the Academy by raising my stats to 16?

I have no intention of living such a miserable life.

The path is set.

***

That evening, Ayla came to the convenience store.

She stared at the sign I was writing and rewriting, then tilted her head.

“So, Wolfram, what are you doing?”

“I'm honing myself to be able to survive on my own.”

“Huh?”

“I need to raise one of my stats to 17.”

“Why?”

“So I don't have to live a miserable life.”

“...?”

Ayla tilted her head, clearly not understanding, but then she started drinking the energy drink she named the "Rebellion Pentagram."

“Anyway, you believe that this repetitive work has meaning?”

“Yes. It affects my skills.”

“Aha. I know about the status increase effect from repetitive work. But no matter how much I practice magic, it doesn't go up...”

“Each stat becomes harder to raise as it increases. You know that, right? A thousand level 15 mages can't match one level 19 mage.”

“U, um. Yes. Hehe.”

Ayla looked oddly pleased. Why?

Oh, maybe her status is 19.

Anyway.

“But when your stats are low, it's easier to raise them through repetitive work.”

“Oh, you can do such humble efforts?”

“Effort accumulated through repetition, even if it's just one point, is different from a point gained through talent. Because I've used it a lot.”

“Yes, that's true.”

I said that and resumed my repetitive work, while Ayla watched with a gentle smile, like Nefte.

Why are they like this, really?

***

However, no matter how many times I write and erase the sign, and no matter how neatly I cut it, my skills won't improve easily.

In D/Z SAGA, the conditions for raising stats through repetitive labor are either an enormous number of repetitions or high difficulty tasks.

So, the system might have judged that writing and erasing the sign isn't a difficult task.

Then, I need to do something more challenging...

“Ah, thank you, Senpai!”

“I'll enjoy it! Thank you!”

“Sure.”

While making the donuts ordered by the first-year students, I was lost in thought.

How can I make my work more efficient?

It would be nice to earn more money, and if I think of it as replenishing the convenience store's stock...

While frying the donuts, I heard a strange scream from behind.

“Eek! Eeek!”

“What, what is it?!”

A monster in Jefrin?

We're not at that stage yet, right?

I quickly turned around and saw the frightened first-year students. At the end of their gazes was that thing.

With disheveled hair, wearing rags, and trembling hands.

I sighed deeply.

Why did this appear here?

“Is, is it a monster? Senpai, is that a monster?”

I shook my head and reassured them.

Don't worry. That's not a monster.

That's...

“A graduate student.”

***

The first-year students, drenched in fear, left saying things like, “Is that a graduate student?” and “How can a person...”

Soon, only I and the two graduate students were left in the food cart. After finishing off four donuts and a shake, I took a deep breath.

I've seen this graduate student approach the food cart like a zombie in the early morning, but I don't know why he's here at this time.

The graduate student's name is Zolf.

He kept thanking me as he looked at me.

“It doesn't matter. But why are you here? Shouldn't you be in the lab?”

“...Yes. Yes, sir.”

Zolf shuddered at my words and kept nodding.

Hmm.

I remember Nefte saying something like this when she finished her business at the food cart a few days ago.

【Yesterday, someone tried to regress to their first-year self and fled the lab.】

“Did you run away from the lab?”

“...How did you know?”

“It's already a rumor. A graduate student who tried to regress to their first-year self and fled the lab.”

“No, that's not it. I'm fine. I just want to go back to my first year.”

That's crazy.

Anyway, if a graduate student appears where someone is doing business, the first-year students are likely to be scared and not approach.

And in this world, it's not good for a graduate student to be here.

“Graduate student in the Magic Department? This is not a good place for you.”

“I know. I know I had a foolish dream.”

“I don't mean that. It's bad for the children's education.”

“Huh?”

“What's your magic power value? I don't need to hear it. As a graduate student, it's at least 16.”

“Yes.”

“And as a graduate student, your manifestation, will, and control of magic are far beyond what the freshmen can even attempt.”

“...Yes.”

“Do you know what happens when a powerful mage with strong willpower wanders around freshmen who have no mental barriers or magical techniques?”

“...Infection occurs.”

That's right.

The reason first-year students attend the General Department in Jefrin is essentially for refined greenhouse cultivation.

Except for a few talented ones, first-year students have weak magical techniques.

What does this mean?

The simplest example is that they don't know how to use their magic, so they constantly emit and push it back into their bodies, causing chaos.

And if another person's will-infused magic enters their bodies during this process, it's not good for their health. In other words, the freshmen can be infected by the darkness of the graduate student.

In this regard, cheers to the Jefrin leadership for making Ayla fight Kelthers. They treat commoners like dirt. They're really crazy.

“I understand. I'll go back. I have to. If I run away now, all I'll have left is the 33 million rin in student loans. I'll return to Professor Lantis' lab. Yes, he said he's starting a new experiment. Haha...”

So, he's from Professor Lantis' lab.

And he's starting a new experiment.

It's a bit painful.

That, um.

Sorry.

“...”

“Haha. The first-year students are so bright. I gave up the graduation ring they will receive four years later. Haha... And I wanted to achieve academic success and get a degree... ...Heh, heh.”

This is a truly heart-wrenching story, but it's also true that it's not good for the children's education.

“What is it? So, what are you saying?”

“Yes?”

“I mean, you're forging official documents.”

“...”

“...?”

Is that so?

It might be.

I shrugged and finished writing the fake doctoral certificate and graduation ring.

“...Phew. Anyway, I came here today to talk to you.”

“What is it?”

“I'm going to exorcise the ghost that appears in the first-year dormitory tomorrow as the Student Council President... Wasn't this kind of thing non-existent during your term?”

I remained silent for a moment, then shook my head casually.

“It never happened. I'm hearing about it for the first time.”

“Is that so? I see. I'll believe you.”

“Good luck.”

“Yes, it will be tough. Ghosts, really, how can they exist?”

Eve shook her head and left the convenience store. I sighed softly as I watched her go.

“It's really starting.”

No later than tomorrow night.

The main story, Chapter 1, will begin.